Wisconsin Science Festival Provides Hands-on Fun!

Have you ever wanted a glimpse of what goes on in the science labs at the University of Wisconsin? This weekend, the UW is opening its doors to demonstrate what its faculty and students are doing everyday. And the best part? It's free and designed as a kid-friendly, hands-on experience.

The Wisconsin Science Festival kicks off with more than 89 locations offering science activities. At the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery, visitors are told to bring their curiosity and enjoy more than 20 hands-on experiments. Schools from all over the region are attending Thursday and Friday. The weekend includes two days of activities open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors will have the opportunity to build working robots, collect, stain and view their own cells, use virtual reality to experience the science of nuclear weapons testing, and so much more.

Organizers want students to get excited about science, and to learn more about the research, breakthroughs and other opportunities happening in a variety of fields. Their website states: "Wisconsin is a state with a rich history of science and technology innovation. A wide variety of institutions participate in science, technology, engineering and math research and exploration and yet are almost invisible to the public. The Wisconsin Science Festival offers a chance to bring these gems to light, allowing the public to interact with and explore the scientific wonders in their own backyard."

Admission is free to most events.

The Wisconsin Science Festival is produced by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Morgridge Institute for Research. The festival is funded by corporate and private donations.

Madison is full of fun and free educational activities. Get out this weekend, bring your curiosity, and enjoy learning more about the research and breakthroughs happening in town.